Big Brother is watching benefits cheats

6:01pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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BENEFIT thieves are being warned that Big Brother is watching them.

Investigators have more powers than ever to track down offenders and they are also taking advantage of the latest video surveillance equipment in the battle to trap offenders.

And with an estimated £20m-a-year stolen by benefit thieves in the North-East, anti-fraud Minister James Plaskitt visited the fraud investigation team at Eston to see new state-of-the-art technology.

He learnt how investigators are working with banks and utility companies to access information about suspects' finances, tools which have resulted in more than 79 Teessiders being taken to court so far this year for fraud believed to total more than £800,000.

Last year 144 people were prosecuted for benefit fraud having stolen more than £500,000 between them.

Mr Plaskitt said: "The message is simple - benefit fraud is a crime, no ifs, no buts, we will catch you and you could face a criminal record.

"Not only are benefit thieves breaking the law, they are also picking the pockets of taxpayers."

If anyone you know is committing benefit theft there is a free benefit fraud hotline on 0800 854 440 to pass on information.

See audio and video for a report on the visit